Most competitive year(s) of cycling?

[rzombie1988]

Which year(s) do you think were most competitive in cycling? You can really go alot of different ways with this question so I'm interested to see what you guys can come up with. Feel free to to split it into sprint/GC if you like. Don't just pick a year, tell us why you chose it!

 

[Havetts]

Of all the recent (2006-2011), I'd say 2008.

Agressive riding in all the Grand Tours, possibly besides the Vuelta which was Astana-sandwiched. But the Tour that year was great to watch, drama all along. Ricco & Piepoli testing positive, then Menchov attacking and falling and later on the climb getting a little hungerknock and ofcourse the amazing attack by Sastre, which was really nice to see as a Sastre-fan.

And I don't even have to start about the Giro, the rumours (seen by some as a fact) that Contador just came from the beach. The drama on the mountains, Sella's breakaway adventures, etc.

 

[ElChingon]

Every year I've watched has been super competitive. When has it not been competitive?

 

[will10]

Every year I've watched has been super competitive. When has it not been competitive?

Well this year we had very little competition in the Ardennes for example. Whereas in 2008 there was no out-and-out favourite and every race threw up a different winner. Thinking about it I agree with Havetts, in recent years 2008 was a good one, very close & competitive TdF and Giro.

Also 2003 sticks in my mind, obviously the Tour battle that year was fantastic with Jan nearly beating Lance, along with Vino, Hamilton, Beloki and Mayo getting a lot closer to Armstrong than ever before. Vino winning Paris-Nice for Kivilev, and we saw some great classics - Hamilton winning Liege, Vino at Amstel and an awesome San Remo edition with Bettini and Paolini outfoxing the sprinters. And of course PVP's Flanders/Roubaix double.

 

[the asian]

The Grand Tours in 2010 weren't too bad either.
The Epic Giro, Close finish between Bertie and Andy at the Tour, and the Vuelta decided in the penultimate stage.